Family: Cyprinidae
Distribution: Trigonostigma hengeli, perhaps better known as the Glowlight Rasbora or Hengel’s Rasbora, is native to Borneo and Sumatra, Indonesia. It has been collected from Sumatra’s Jambi province and from the Tambesi River. It is usually found in gentle streams and densely vegetated tributaries.
PH: 5.5 – 7.5
Temperature: 23°C – 28C (73 – 82F)
Hardness: 5 – 12 dH
Description: Trigonostigma hengeli can reach a length of 3 cm in an aquarium. This species has a small, translucent body and a slim, bright orange line extending laterally. There is a black marking below the orange line; the orange and black become more intense when the fish is in good health. This species is difficult to sex, but adult females are generally larger with a rounded belly.
Diet: Trigonostigma hengeli will eat almost anything, but you should feed it a varied diet that includes crumbled flake, pellets, Cyclops, Daphnia, mosquito larvae and brine shrimp.
Breeding: The Glowlight Rasbora will attach its eggs to broad leaves, as opposed to the usual Cyprinid practice of scattering the eggs. Feed these fish a live-food diet before attempting the spawning process. When you notice the female is full of eggs and the male is displaying a bright colouration, you should make a cool water change of about 40 – 50 per cent and introduce one or two pairs to the spawning container after about two hours. Remove the parents as soon as you see the eggs on the underside of a plant leaf, as they exhibit no parental care.
Comments: Trigonostigma hengeli should be housed in a tank that is at least 60 litres in volume, even larger if possible. This fish will prefer a heavily vegetated tank that resembles its natural environment, including floating plants, a sandy substrate and several roots and branches. It is recommended your tank is dimly lit to simulate this species’ natural environment. This species is quite easy to look after and is recommended to beginners.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species: Trigonostigma hengeli should be kept in large groups of at least 8 – 10. They will live happily with Tetraspecies (particularly the Neon Tetraand Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, CorydorasCatfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbaiand Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppyand Platyand most Gourami(such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also can live happily with most Danio(particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish make great tank mates.
Originally posted 2010-01-26 22:10:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
